Reuters: Falun Gong Members Launch Washington Hunger Strike

Sat, Aug 18 6:41 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eight followers of the Falun Gong spiritual movement have launched a hunger strike in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, appealing for the release of practitioners held by Beijing, organizers said on Saturday.

The group set up camp in a small park across from the embassy, which they lined with banners protesting against the government crackdown. Signs read "SOS!" and "Justice for Falun Gong."

Some passing motorists honked their horns in response. China banned the movement in 1999 after it stunned the leadership by [appealing] outside the top officials' Beijing compound to demand official recognition of the movement.

The Washington protesters said they started their hunger strike on Friday to press for the release of an estimated 130 Falun Gong members from a labor camp in the northeastern province of Liaoning. The Liaoning practitioners launched a hunger strike three weeks ago.

"We hope that we can help," said Shean Lin, 30, of Birmingham, Alabama, who took part in the Washington protest.

The group said in a statement that the effort was a "small reflection" of what Falun Gong followers are going through in China.

Since China banned Falun Gong in 1999, more than 50,000 practitioners have been sent to prisons, labor camps and mental hospitals, the movement says.

Human rights groups estimate that some 200 Falun Gong adherents have died from torture during detention.

In addition to setting up banners along a major Washington roadway, the protesters held [meditation] sessions outside the Chinese Embassy and tried -- unsuccessfully -- to deliver their demands to the ambassador.

Participants said they would only drink water and planned to sleep in their cars, and they promised to continue the hunger strike for as long as possible.

"I will do my best," said 19-year-old Jinwei Wang, who lives in the Washington area. Her parents also took part in the protest.

"We feel grateful for the American people's support," added fellow protester Sam Lu, 33, of Atlanta.

The group said it would hold a news conference on Monday to discuss the protest.

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